Three Somerset County Men Arrested In Large Narcotics Bust

Two undercover investigations conducted by Somerset County, Hillsborough, and Franklin Township law enforcement this month led to the arrest of five men and the seizure of 212 grams of cocaine - an approximate street value of $21,200.

Those arrested and charged were:

• Jose Contreras, 19, of Hillsborough
• Abimael Sanchez, 24, of Hillsborough
• Jose Juan Lozada-Rojas, 22, of Franklin Township
• Andy Martinez-Ramos, 37, of New Brunswick
• Alex Marroquin, 29, of New Brunswick

According to the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office:

• On July 8, 2015, in the vicinity of Marshall Road in Hillsborough Township, an undercover detective assigned to the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Organized Crime and Narcotics Task Force met with Jose Contreras and purchased two bags of cocaine with a combined weight of one gram.

• On July 9, 2015 the undercover detective met a second time with Contreras at a Route 206 shopping plaza in Hillsborough Township and he purchased one gram bag of cocaine from him.

On July 15, 2015 defendant Contreras made arrangements for his drug supplier to meet with him and the undercover detective at an Easton Avenue shopping plaza in Franklin Township.

• At 9 p.m. Task Force detectives and members of the Franklin Township Crime Suppression Unit set up surveillance of the shopping plaza.

• The undercover detective arrived in his own vehicle and parked near a fast food restaurant located within the shopping plaza where he waited for defendant Contreras to arrive.

• The surveillance team observed defendant Contreras arrive in a Volkswagen Jetta driven by Abimael Sanchez.

• The team then observed the arrival of an Acura sedan driven by Andy Martinez-Ramos with Alex Marroquin in the front passenger seat. Defendant Contreras exited his vehicle and entered the rear seat of the Acura.

• A short time later, Contreras exited the Acura holding an aluminum foil package. Defendant Contreras then met with the undercover detective in the parking lot and sold him the 150 grams of cocaine that was in the aluminum foil package.

At this time, detectives approached the defendants and after a brief struggle with defendant Contreras he was placed under arrest. Defendants Martinez-Ramos and Mirraquin were removed from the Acura and were also placed under arrest without incident. Defendant Sanchez gave detectives voluntary consent to search his vehicle. The search resulted in the seizure of two marijuana cigarettes. Defendant Sanchez was arrested without incident.

• Contreras was charged with Distribution of CDS (Cocaine), 1st Degree, Conspiracy to Distribute CDS (Cocaine), 2nd Degree, two counts of Distribution of CDS (Cocaine) 3rd Degree and Resisting Arrest, a Disorderly Persons Offense.

• Martinez-Ramos was charged with Distribution of CDS (Cocaine), 1st degree, and Conspiracy to Distribute CDS (Cocaine), 2nd degree.

• Mirraquin was charged with Distribution of CDS (Cocaine), 1st degree, and Conspiracy to Distribute CDS (Cocaine), 2nd degree.

• Sanchez was charged with Possession of Marijuana under 50 grams, a Disorderly Persons Offense.

On July 16, 2015 the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Organized Crime and Narcotics Task Force and the Franklin Township Crime Suppression Unit continued its investigation into cocaine distribution in Franklin Township.

• Arrangements were made for an undercover detective to meet with Jose Juan Lozada-Rojas in the vicinity of Somerset Street. Subsequent to setting up a surveillance team in the area, detectives observed Lozada-Rojas arrive in a silver Honda Civic.
  

• Lozada-Rojas met the undercover and sold him one plastic bag containing 60 grams of cocaine. After the transaction was completed, detectives approached defendant Lozada-Rojas and arrested him without incident.

He was charged with Distribution of CDS (Cocaine), 2nd Degree and he was lodged in the Somerset County Jail with bail set by the Honorable Robert Reed, J.S.C., at $100,000 cash only.